5,000 offered screening for HIV and Hepatitis B and C

[Guest guest]

5,000 offered screening for HIV

The hepatitis C virus is blood-borne

More than 5,000 patients of a Gwynedd health care worker are to be screened

for HIV as well as hepatitis B and C.

It follows the member of staff, believed to be at a dental surgery, being

diagnosed with hepatitis C.

The National Public Health Service (NPHS) for Wales said it was also

offering screening for HIV and hepatitis B.

It follows patient concerns about the standard of the health care worker's

infection control procedures.

The worker was diagnosed with hepatitis C last autumn and on Wednesday the

NPHS stressed the person had only that infection.

'Very small' risk

Doctor Payne, regional director for the NPHS North Wales, said: " The

contact programme is precautionary.

" The risk of a healthcare worker passing on the hepatitis C virus is very

low indeed. It can only happen if the healthcare worker's blood gets into

the patient's bloodstream

" We have no evidence to suggest that any individual has suffered ill health

as a consequence of having care provided by the healthcare worker.

People who do not receive a letter have no reason for concern

Dr Payne, NHPS North Wales

" The letters to patients will arrive in the next couple of days and I hope

that people will use the advisory and support services we have set up.

People who do not receive a letter have no reason for concern. "

She added: " I do want to emphasise that the risk of patients getting

hepatitis C, hepatitis B or HIV is very small indeed. "

The NPHS has checked the details of more than 5,000 patients and examined

records going back up to 30 years in a bid to identify those who are to be

offered screening.

The tests will be offered from 5 June to 17 July at 47 special clinics set

up for blood testing.

Mr Ifan , 70, received a letter on Wednesday. He said: " I feel

really angry because they are putting patient confidentiality before public

health. "

He said he was also concerned because the symptoms described on the pamphlet

that came with his letter are identical to ones he has experienced as a

diabetic.

" I don't know whether the symptoms are because I am diabetic or because I

have hepatitis C, " he said.

Reported symptons

The NPHS has been working on the case since last year and an incident

management team has also been set up to look into the case.

The member of staff concerned stopped working last October, when the NPHS

was notified of their diagnosis.

Hepatitis C means swelling or inflammation of the liver. The virus is blood

borne and is spread when blood of an infected person is spread into the

bloodstream of another.

The infection affects different people in different ways, with many

experiencing no symptoms at all while others experience extreme tiredness

and can feel very unwell.

Reported symptoms include fatigue, weight loss, nausea, 'flu-like symptoms,

problems concentrating, abdominal pain and jaundice.

It is estimated that around 15-20% of infected people clear their infections

naturally within the first six months of infection.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/5032996.stm

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[Guest guest]

5,000 offered screening for HIV

The hepatitis C virus is blood-borne

More than 5,000 patients of a Gwynedd health care worker are to be screened

for HIV as well as hepatitis B and C.

It follows the member of staff, believed to be at a dental surgery, being

diagnosed with hepatitis C.

The National Public Health Service (NPHS) for Wales said it was also

offering screening for HIV and hepatitis B.

It follows patient concerns about the standard of the health care worker's

infection control procedures.

The worker was diagnosed with hepatitis C last autumn and on Wednesday the

NPHS stressed the person had only that infection.

'Very small' risk

Doctor Payne, regional director for the NPHS North Wales, said: " The

contact programme is precautionary.

" The risk of a healthcare worker passing on the hepatitis C virus is very

low indeed. It can only happen if the healthcare worker's blood gets into

the patient's bloodstream

" We have no evidence to suggest that any individual has suffered ill health

as a consequence of having care provided by the healthcare worker.

People who do not receive a letter have no reason for concern

Dr Payne, NHPS North Wales

" The letters to patients will arrive in the next couple of days and I hope

that people will use the advisory and support services we have set up.

People who do not receive a letter have no reason for concern. "

She added: " I do want to emphasise that the risk of patients getting

hepatitis C, hepatitis B or HIV is very small indeed. "

The NPHS has checked the details of more than 5,000 patients and examined

records going back up to 30 years in a bid to identify those who are to be

offered screening.

The tests will be offered from 5 June to 17 July at 47 special clinics set

up for blood testing.

Mr Ifan , 70, received a letter on Wednesday. He said: " I feel

really angry because they are putting patient confidentiality before public

health. "

He said he was also concerned because the symptoms described on the pamphlet

that came with his letter are identical to ones he has experienced as a

diabetic.

" I don't know whether the symptoms are because I am diabetic or because I

have hepatitis C, " he said.

Reported symptons

The NPHS has been working on the case since last year and an incident

management team has also been set up to look into the case.

The member of staff concerned stopped working last October, when the NPHS

was notified of their diagnosis.

Hepatitis C means swelling or inflammation of the liver. The virus is blood

borne and is spread when blood of an infected person is spread into the

bloodstream of another.

The infection affects different people in different ways, with many

experiencing no symptoms at all while others experience extreme tiredness

and can feel very unwell.

Reported symptoms include fatigue, weight loss, nausea, 'flu-like symptoms,

problems concentrating, abdominal pain and jaundice.

It is estimated that around 15-20% of infected people clear their infections

naturally within the first six months of infection.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/5032996.stm

_________________________________________________________________

Don’t just search. Find. Check out the new MSN Search!

http://search.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200636ave/direct/01/